Friday, June 14, 2013

Adams Avenue Street Fair Opens Submissions

The Adams Avenue Street Fair returns for its 32nd year in Normal Heights and it's time to get your submissions in if you would like your band to be considered for the free festival.

This year's festival will be held on Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29, 2013 and they're now accepting music submissions from now until Monday, July 15.

Please submit an EPK that includes a couple of tracks, photo, and a one paragraph bio to Steve Kader: smkader@cox.net

Or by mail at:

Adams Avenue Business Association
Attn: Adams Avenue Street Fair Music Submissions
4649 Hawley Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92116

That seems easy enough, right? Well, as someone on the music committee that has to sift through all of the entries, here are some tips:

-sending a package with a CD with all of the bands info on the case and on the CD is the best way to get your band heard

-if you choose to send an email, use a CLEAR SUBJECT on your email, i.e. "Adams Avenue Band Submission from (Band Name). These emails are forwarded to several people and will be junk mail if it isn't clear what they're about.

-While Steve accepts MP3 files, his inbox will fill up really fast. A better option is to link to EACH TRACK hosted on SoundCloud, Bandcamp. SonicBids and Reverbnation also work, but the sound is pretty terrible. We pretty much listen through a laptop speaker, so consider that when you submit.

-Submit tracks with a VERY SHORT intro. Imagine a room of 5 or 6 people sifting through 100 or 300 or 500 emails. If your music doesn't catch the ears in the first 30 seconds, it could just be moved aside.

-Be realistic. Does your band belong on a festival stage? Can you draw a crowd? Where have you played before and what was the turnout? Certainly all bands are considered, but we walk into the meeting with "dream lists" of bands we would like to see perform. Budget is set aside for big touring acts to anchor the stages, local bands are paid very modestly to perform as support.

-Have a concise bio. "So and so is a (insert genre) band from San Diego that sound like X, Y, and Z. The # members met at XYZ and have been performing live at venues like A, B, and C, for # years."

-If you are an ACOUSTIC act, send your package in to Steve, but also get in touch with Louis at Lestat's, as he generally handles all acoustic acts.

-Don't email me. This is Steve's baby, I don't know if or how much I'll be involved.

-Include your preferred stage and availability. The stages are rock, world music, acoustic, roots, and blues. If you can only play one day or the other or are limited to daytime or nighttime, say so, though being available anytime on either day will increase your chances of performing.

-The music committee tries not to repeat performers. If you played in 2012, you might not be asked to play in 2013. Try again in 2014.

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